Blizzard's wind damages part of Wrigley Field

Blizzard's wind damages part of Wrigley Field

CHICAGO -- Winds gusting up to 70 mph blew some pieces of a structural panel off the roof of Wrigley Field's press box during Tuesday's blizzard.

Debris was scattered on the ground outside the 97-year-old ballpark and surrounding streets were closed off as a precautionary measure. The biggest chunk of the roof landed under the stadium marquee outside the main entrance at Clark and Addison streets. The roof panel tiles are made of fiber board.

Cubs media relations director Peter Chase said the interior of the press box was not damaged, and that the Cubs worked with the city to make sure there were no public safety-related problems. Streets were closed around the ballpark Tuesday night around 5:30 p.m. CT and reopened around midnight.

Chase said that stadium officials reported no other damage to the ballpark.

Early Wednesday, traffic was moving on Clark and Addison streets but the sidewalks next to Wrigley were still blocked off.